Modified Y- split and recession of medial rectus muscles in convergence excess esotropia

Purpose: The convergence excess esotropia (CEET) is defined when near esotropia is greater than the distance by at least 10 PD while the eye is corrected with the full cycloplegic refraction. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a modified technique of Y- split recession of the medial rectus muscles on CEET. Methods: This was a retrospective study on patients diagnosed with CEET. The surgery included longitudinally dividing the medial rectus muscles into two equal halves and re-attaching them in a recessed and one-tendon width apart position. Success was defined as a residual distance and near esotropia of less than 10 PD and a distance-near disparity of less than 5 PD. Results: Fourteen patients, including 8 (57.1%) females, were enrolled with a mean age of 7.1 ± 2.9 years. The mean follow-up period was 28.6 ± 12.1 months. The mean preoperative distance and near esotropia was 31 ± 10 and 45 ± 11.3 PD respectively that decreased to 2.4 ± 3 and 3.6 ± 3.8 PD at the final visit ( p < 0.001). The Mean distance-near disparity of esotropia was 14 ± 4.5 PD before the operation that decreased to 1.3 ± 1.8 PD at the final visit ( p < 0.001). The motor success rate was 78.6%, bifocal glasses were no more required in 92.9% of patients, and stereopsis improved in 35.7% of patients after the surgery. Conclusion: Bilateral modified Y- split and recession of the medial rectus muscle is an effective technique for the treatment of CEET with persistent outcomes in the long-term follow-up.

Slanted versus Augmented Recession for Horizontal Strabismus

Purpose: To compare the surgical outcomes of slanted versus augmented recession in patients with horizontal strabismus. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, a total of 100 esotropic (ET) and exotropic (XT) patients with a high AC/A ratio which was defined as a difference of ≥ 10 prism diopters (pd) between the distance and near deviations were included if the patients had a distance deviation ≥ 15 pd. Patients were randomly assigned into the slanted (n = 26 in ET and n = 24 in XT group) and augmented recession groups (n = 25 in ET and n = 25 in XT group). In the slanted group, recession was performed on the superior and inferior poles of the muscle based on the distance and near deviations, respectively, while in the augmented recession group, the muscles were recessed 1.00 or 1.50 mm more than the standard amount according to the distance and near difference between 10 and 20 pd or > 20 pd, respectively. Results: The mean age was 9.8 ± 9.6 years and 63% were female. There was a significant postoperative reduction of difference in convergence excess in ET cases compared to patients who underwent the augmented recession procedure (12.65 ± 6.16 vs 8.64 ± 6.1 pd, P = 0.014). Among our XT groups, there was no significant difference in postoperative reduction in the XT angle in the slanted group compared with the augmented group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Slanted recession is recommended in convergence excess ET patients. In XT patients, either slanted or augmented recession may be chosen according to the priority and experience of the surgeon.